Yuriy Bova is Mayor of Trostyanets, a Ukrainian city just 20 miles from the Russian border that endured occupation for a month. Badly damaged in fighting with Russian forces almost two years ago, Trostyanets is one of six settlements being rebuilt in a pilot program to develop the skills and experience needed for a far broader reconstruction drive.
Trostyanets is now in partnership with the City of Chattanooga whose Mayor Tim Kelly formalized a cooperative agreement with the war-torn Ukrainian city. I met Mayor Bova at a recent reception celebrating the collaboration with many city leaders and organizations like Sister Cities.
Hear Mayor Bova discuss through his translator:
- The history and significance of Trostyanets and the remaining historical monuments
- Trostyanets’ response to Russia’s large-scale invasion in 2022 and what the Russians did in the city
- The process of rebuilding: how it began and its current status
- The city’s development strategy including sports and tourism industries and attracting new investors to the community
Takeaways:
- What are current threats from Russia?
- What are the most important problems requiring solutions now?
- What will be the benefits of this partnership with Chattanooga and how does your visit benefit your people?